Hollywood Protests “Real World Issues”, Eventually

“Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues whilst American society was gripped by the convulsion and controversy they generated.

Explores why Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and how most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past

Organized around such important issues as poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia

Discusses the relevance and the impact of feature films from Modern Times to WALL-E

In spite of its professed liberalism, Hollywood has always been risk-adverse, and most feature films deal with controversial issues long after the controversy is past. Hollywood Speaks Out explores that rare Hollywood feature that dared to tackle red-hot, social issues while America herself struggled to come to terms . Organized around issues that map the culture wars of the past and the present moment–poverty, racism, sexism, war, anti-Semitism, and homophobia–this engaging text captures American cultural and social history in cinematic real-time–fromThe Birth of a Nation, Boys Don’t Cry, and American Beauty to Silkwood, Syriana, and Transamerica.”

I am interested in reading this book because I grew up in the 1960’s when there was a fight for Civil Rights, the protest against the War in Vietnam, the fight for Women’s Rights, the fight against McCarthyism and the Red Scare, and the Chicago Daley Machine were some of the biggest controversies of that time. I wish more films were made to expose the injustices that prevailed then and which, paralyzed the American people, including my family. Apparently these books speak to those issues.

If anyone has read this book, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.